DRAINAGE WORKS

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19257, 12 March 1928, Page 11

DRAINAGE WORKS

TOUR OF INSPECTION. THE SEWAGE FARM.

Seventeen motor-cars were required tor the conveyance of members of the Christchurch Drainage Board and italf and their guests, representing Government Departments, and local bodies, on a tour ot inspection ui the iioaru .I worKs oil Saturuay. The -Board was represented by .Utssra H. J. Utiey f (_jianniau;_. j. \\. lieaniand, S. uinguam, a. X. smith, C. tj. McCully, ji). il. s>. Hamilton, V. C. Large, ii. riill, C. Hill, W. J. Walter (members), 1< Champion (secretary), J. K. CulJens (.engineerj. ami other members of the stall. Dr. T. H. A. \ alintine (Director-General ol Health), and Dr. T. Fletcher Telford (Aiedical Officer of Health) represented the Health Department; Mr H. C. Lusty (assistant district engineer) and Mr A. S. Wansborough (designing engineer) the Railway Department; the Mayor, Mr J. K. Archer, Crs. D. G. Sullivan, M.P., G. 11. Hunter, Mr J. S. Neville (Town Clerk), Mr A. E. Galbraith (City Engineer), and Mr H. Mcintosh (chief traffic inspector) the City Council; Hons. Mr lsitt and Mr Witty, M.L.C. s, and Messrs.H. Holland and H. S. fe. Kyle, M.P.'s, the Legislature; Mr W. S. Wharton (secretary) the North Canterbury Hospital Board; Messrs J. O. Coop and ~\Y. Parkinson the Waimairi County Council; Mr W. H. Harris (resident engineer) the \\ aimakariri liiver Trust; and Mr S. F. Marshall the Christchurch Citizens' Association. Others present included: —Messrs J. J. Dougall, H. M. Chrystall, G. A. L). Tapper, and F. T. C'owlishaw. Garden and Fendalton roads were first visited. Mr T. Phcloung has in hand here two sewer contracts, witn which good progress is being made*. Water has proved verv plentiful a few feet below the surface in Fcndalton. and continuous pumping has been necessary.

Peaty Foundations. Dryer country has been encountered in fat. Albans and Papanui, where Messrs Boyle Brothers liave contracts in hand. Peat, however, has proved a worse problem, and in the old Papanui township towards the Northcoce Settlement all the foundation had to be piled. Workmen were employed in a deep trench at the extreme northern end of Papanui road when the party visited the locality on Saturday. No piles have been required here, the chief element under the surface being well-rotted trees. In north St. Albans the contractors struck their worst difficulties, especially in Proctor, Mary, Frank, and Loftus streets, where H was frequently necessary to drive piles 16 feet below the trench bottom, through the deep peat. They went down very easily for the first ten feet, after which a harder stratum was met with. Papanui is now being reticulated fairly rapidly. Messrs Page Brothers have completed their contract :n Papanui road. That of Messrs Doyla Brothers extends along Sawyer's Arms road to the railway, on the east side of Papanui road. Two of the Board's pumping stations were next inspected, and a few minutes were spent in watching the operations of the river-sweeper, about half a mile below' Swan's bridge, where the Avon takes a wide sweep. Immediately below the sweeper the silt has banked up in the middle of the river to such an extent that grass has appeared ov it above the surface of the water. The Reti'eat road (No. 8) pumping station provides the third lift for the Papanui sewerage. The total head is 25 feet, and the 17} horse-power pump puts through 970 gallons a minute. The pipes run from No. 8 to No. 10 pumping station in Woodham road, where the lift necessary to take the sewage to sewage farm is ' provided. Two pumps, one of 35 horse-power and the other of 20, give a lift of 15 feet, the head in the crtse of one being 46 feet and in the other 38 feet. Tliey are capable of pumping 1900 gallons petminute, and are started and shut off automatically by the rise and fall of the sewage.

Fine Pastures. Scores of sleek cows were found grazing contentedly in fat pastures at the sewage farm. The lields are fertilised by the effluent from, the catchment tanks, which is carried to all parts of the farm in races with numerous trap outlets. It is easy to understand how the Board realises £BOO per annum oy letting, when the rich grass is seen Near at hand Messrs Clark Brothel s are going ahead with the levelling of a tract of sandhills, their plant being a 75 liorse-power clamshell bucket grao, 34 tons in weight, which waddles about on great caterpillar wheels from hill to hill, cropping off the lupins and demolishing the eminences in great mouthfuls which it drops into the hollows. It has shifted about 18,000 yards of spoil in a little under a year, and the contract is now half finished. On. the credit side of the ledger for the Board are 54 acres of level paddocks. Scoops and a grader follow the grab and make the sand as level as a billiard table; then it is flooded with effluent and sown down. A beautiful pasture over six inches high in a paddock sown down as late as January 10th provided all the evidence needed that grass will grow even in sand, if it receives proper treatment. Quantities of effluent trickle through the sand into a race along the boundary, coming out as uure as spring water. The inspection .at an end, the party adjourned to a large marquee on the farm, where luncheon was provided, and a toast list honoured. Grace was said by the Mayor. After the loyal toast had been honoured Mr Otley gave some figures illustrating the extent of tho Board's operations.

Worked Underground. As one of the professions was said to do with its bad work, said Mr Otley, the Drainage Board put most of its work underground. "l£ ours is bad work, however," he said, "it comes up again, and looks at us." The sewerage extension scheme comprised 19 pumping stations, 125 miles ot sewers, and nine miles of rising mains In the northern circuit there was a chain of four main pumping stations, and in the southern circuit three, the former • having one and the lattei eleven subsidiary ones. The Board had under its control 182 miles of sewers, and when "the works in hand were completed, would have about 240 miles, with 24 pumping stations. The southern circuit was now in working order, and areas in Woolston. Opawa, Spreydon. and Ricearton had been made available for connexion. In July last the northern circuit was completed, making available areas in Linwood, Avonside, Richmond. Shirley, and St. Albans. Stations in Chelsea and Smith streets and Richardson terrace were sufficiently advanced to have the machinery installed, and a contract had been let for the sewers and rising main in No. 9 area. Tenders were also being called foi No. 18 rising main, and on completion of this work further areas in Linwood, Bromley, Woolston, and Opawa would be declared open for connexion. Tenders would close on the 13th instant for machinery for the remaining nine pumping stations yet to be built, and plans were in course of preparation for the buildings, ready to be advertised on receipt of successful tenderer's plans for the P um P l installation. Approximately 14oU houses had been connected to the new sewerage system since the first section was opened eleven months ago. Tho number of permits issued for house connexions showed an increase every month, and durin 2 Februarv nearly 400 houses were connected. The total

area under irrigation on the sewage , Pi™ 184 acres. A new septic tank had been built, and was in operation. J)rom the commencement of the scheme to " a te, contracts had been completed or let for sewers covering 97 miles 37 .o chains of reticulation, with 14 miles chains of main sewers, and (5 miles 0.0 chains of rising mains. Reticulation contracts were in progress in bpreydon (2), Papanui (2), Riccarton, and rendallofi, while a contract had been let for Bromley. Since the last annual inspection, 53 miles .59 chains of sewers had been laid. The area of the drainage district was 48? square miles, 32i more than that of the City of Christchurch. "Everything Possible." "We aro doing evervthing possible with the money available," said Mr Otley. '-We are conceited about what we have done at the farm. You have never seen such splendid cattle. The grass grows like mushrooms."

Mr Beanland. proposed the toast oi "Local Authorities in the Drainage Board s District." "In dealing with the various local bodies,"' he said, "we hare our differences through going in and pulling up their roads, and putting them to great expense, but we try to ieave them somewhat decent, and I hope the Board will be given credit tor this.''

The Mayor (Mr J. Iv. Archer) said & visitor had remarked that he could understand why Christchurch was called the Holy City when he drove through the streets on which the Drainage Board had been at work. Me then announced Mr McDougall's rrit't to the City, the intimation being loudly applauded.

Mr G. Rankin (Riccarton Borough Council) said the Board had done excellent work, and it left the roads in an excellent state. The Hon. Mr lsitt said he was impressed with the extent and efficiency of the. works. The Board should oil its propeller—talk a hit more about its work. Tf the people of Christchurch had any idea of its wonderful extent, nn immense amount of enthusiasm would.be engendered.

The £700,000 Loan. The importunate widow, continued Mr Isitt, had not been in it with the Board when it was trying to yet through Parliament its £<oo,ooo Bill, hut the expenditure ot every penny would be warranted. Mr J. Cleland (Waimairi County Council) said lie had olten had a dig at the Board, but in future he would have more sympathy for it. He supposed the contractors were more re sponsible for the state of the roads. Mr J. H. McAuliffe responded on behalf ol the Heatlicote County Council. The Board had not extended its operations into Hcathcote yet, he said, although it had its headquarters in the county. Mr S. C. Bingham, proposing the toast of "Members of the Legislature,'' said mora were present than on any pievious occasion.

The Hon. Mr Witty said an asset was being created on the sewage farm which would last for all time. It had assisted a great deal in alleviating unemployment. Mr H. S. S. Kyle, M.P., said the Drainage Board's Bill had received the closest possible scrutiny. "The Health Department" was proposed by Mr Otley. He said some of the members of the Cabinet might have attended, but they seemed to be worried .about the Auckland electors just now. The Board could not too deeply appreciate the co-operation it had received from Drs. Valintine and Telford. Christchurch was now healthy town, thanks to its drainage. Dr. Valintine said he counted himself very remiss in not going over the works before. A system had been established which was a credit to the country.

Dr. Telford said tho Board always had something fresh "So show, and it had spent its money well. It had had troublesome quicksands to deal with, and the utmost credit was due to its engineers and contractors.

Other Toasts. Mr E. H. S. Hamilton proposed the toast of "The Visitors," and Professor P. Powell, Mr D. Wallace (Nyastialand), and Messrs G. P- Tapper, W. Parkinson, and J. 0. Coop responded. "Solicitors and Bankers" was proposed by Mr A. T. Smith. Messrs l£ipper and I l '. I. Cowlishaw responded. Mr W. C. Large, in proposing the toast of "The Contractors, !l said they had proved rear sterling men. Messrs P. Graham and A Moore responded. The latter said tho financing of the contractors had been carried out 011 a very sound system. Work which formerly cost £9O per chain was now being dono fot from £25 to £3O Mr J. J. Dougall remarked that, as a junior in the office of a firm or solicitors, he had.made a copy of the Bill establishing the Board, In proposing the toast of "The Drainage Board," he said, that in the' opinion of many people the high pressure water supply should have accompanied the sewers.

Mr Otley said Christchurch was one of the worst cities in the world to drain. Ths centre of the City was bad enough, but the outskirts were worse. If the Board had not been employing so much labour, the community would have been forced to borrow money to maintain the unemployed. Not a fraction of a penny had been wasted. "The Staff" was proposed by Mr C. S. McCull.v, Messrs Champion, and Cullens responding, and Mr H. "ill proposed the toast of "Tho Press."